Hi,
I havent oficially been diagnosed with Bi polar disorder but I'm showing signs of it with dramatic mood swings that range from extreme highs to extreme lows.
Anyway, I read that lithium was good for balancing out moods and it doesnt seem that you can buy it over the counter, so I'm wondering if anyone out there can share their experiences with this medication and if it has helped them or not. Also, I would like to know your personal side affects from it so when i do see a mental health specialist, I won't be taking this medication so naive.

I am not BP but I do take lithium on a daily basis. Lithium has never caused any major side effects, the ocassional metalic taste and you really need to drink lots of water. Not much but hope it helped

hi, lithium cannot be bought over the counter it HAS to be prescribed, ive just been diagnosed bipolar and started taking it and it is helping, as with the other posts on here you have to drink a lot of water, avoid salt and caffeine intake and have regular bllod tests to check levels

It was menitioned in a previous post to avoid salt when taking Lithium. To the contrary, please read the following :

Lithium therapy requires reaching plasma concentrations of lithium which are relatively close to the toxic concentration. Lithium is excreted primarily by the kidney; adequate renal function and adequate salt and fluid intake are essential in order to avoid lithium accumulation and intoxication. Thus, a decision to initiate lithium therapy should be preceded by a thorough clinical examination and evaluation of each patient, including laboratory determinations, ECG, and a very careful assessment of renal function. When sodium intake is lowered, lithium excretion is reduced. Diminished intake or excessive loss of salt and fluids, as a result of vomiting, diarrhea, perspiration or use of diuretics will also increase lithium retention. Thus, lithium should not be given to patients on a salt-free diet and sodium depletion must be carefully avoided. Therefore, it is essential for the patient to maintain a normal diet including adequate salt and fluid intake during lithium therapy. Salt supplements and additional fluids may be required if excessive losses occur. If diuretics are used during lithium therapy the serum lithium concentration must be closely monitored. Mild to moderate toxic reactions occur at lithium levels of 1.5 to 2 mmol/L; moderate to severe reactions at levels > 2 mmol/L.

Research under Lithium Carbonate. Check under Precautions. This information has been well documented concerning the importance of Sodium intake. I have taken Lithium Carbonate for over 36 years. My pdocs have always explained to me the importance of salt intake.

Please check with your pdoc as every person may require a different amount of sodium intake.

Yes, I've heard it's dangerous to avoid salt while on Lithium as well for the very reason posted above. I guess Lithium doesn't truly get metabolized, but instead goes out with your salt, so if you don't eat enough salt, it'll just sit around in your body.

Anyway, someone above said you can't get Lithium without a prescription. That isn't true either. There is a form of Lithium, Lithium Orotate, which is sold over the counter, although many studies indicate it is very bad on your kidneys (much worse than Carbonate) at high doses, and it's not FDA approved. However, a lot of natural path people take it, and there's a doctor in my area who swears by taking a low dose of this stuff every day to prevent problems related to aging brains.

Well, I read all the other posts and am surprised that no one complained about chronic diarrhea. I had the diarrhea for several weeks, and I had two doctors tell me no, no, no, lithium could not be the problem, but yet, when our family lost an old friend and some other emotional stuff was going on, I forgot to take it and for several days. Anyways, the short story is, I haven't taken it anymore and my bm's are completely normal now. And to think I was set for a colonoscopy!